Safety and Health Hazard Topics
Heat Stress
Many workers spend some part of their working day in a hot environment. Workers in foundries, laundries, construction projects, and bakeries — to name a few industries — often face hot conditions which pose special hazards to safety and health. The following materials can assist employers and employees in recognizing and evaluating hazards in the workplace.
More Info & Resources
Heat Stress Pamphlet
Training PowerPoint
Occupational Heat Exposure
Heat-related Illnesses and First Aid
Heat Hazards: Working Outdoors in Warm Climates Fact Sheet (2005) (English: PDF)
Heat Illness: Health Effects of Heat Worksite, Training Poster
If working outdoors, the risk for heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, can cause serious medical problems or death. Display this poster at the worksite for workers to see, and use it as an educational training tool.
(OSHA 3431 – 2011) (English: PDF)
Heat Illness: Health Effects of Heat Worksite, Training Poster (Spanish)
(OSHA 3432 – 2011) (Spanish: PDF)
Heat Illness: Protecting Yourself in the Sun
(OSHA 3166 – 2003) (English: HTML | PDF)
Heat Illness: Protecting Yourself in the Sun (Spanish)
Protecting Yourself in the Sun – Heat Stress QuickCard
(OSHA 3168 – 2000) (Spanish: HTML | PDF)
Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. Learn of precautions your employer should take any time temperatures are high and the job involves physical work. 2 pages
(OSHA 3154 – 2017) (English: PDF)
(OSHA 3417 – 2017) (Spanish: PDF)
(OSHA 3389 – 2011) (Vietnamese: PDF)
Resources:
National Integrated Heat Health Information System
Extreme Heat Safety Social Media Toolkit
NWS Heat Safety Resources
OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App
Using the Heat Index to Protect Workers
Posters:
Prevent Heat Illness at Work Poster (English)
Consejos para Prevenir las Enfermedades Relacionadas al Calor Poster (Spanish)
Reverse Signal
The Department of Labor and Industry’s Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program and the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board have adopted a final regulation for Reverse Signal Operation Safety Requirements for Vehicles, Machinery and Equipment for General Industry and the Construction Industry, 16 VAC 25-97.
Grain Protection
There are several provisions employers must follow to comply with the grain handling standard. They include requirements for hot work: entering bins, silos, tanks, and other storage structures: inside bucket elevator legs: preventive maintenance. Having a smooth-running grain handling system is critical. The more efficient the system is, the less the grain needs to be moved, and the less risk there will be of mechanical damage.
More Info & Resources
Tree Trimming
The Department of Labor and Industry’s Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program and the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board have adopted a final regulation for Tree Trimming Operations, 16VAC25-73. For additional information on safety, educational programs, meetings, publications and guidelines for tree service operations, be sure to visit the Tree Care Industry Association webpage.
More Info & Resources
News Article: English | Spanish
Explanation of Outreach: English | Spanish
Training Materials
The following supporting documentation was designed to assist in the understanding and implementation of this regulation.
Text of Regulation: English | Spanish
Training Certification Form: English | Spanish
Interpretations: English
Outreach/Phased Enforcement Explanation: English | Spanish
Powerpoint Presentation: English
Quick Cards – Quick reference guides for sections §40, thru §90 G-H
VOSH Directives on Tree Trimming Operations
- VOSH Program Directive 14-234
Local Emphasis Program – Tree Trimming Operations - VOSH Program Directive 02-244
Tree Trimming Operations, 16VAC25-73, Inspection Procedures and Interpretations
Fall Protection
Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. Employers must set up the workplace to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls.
Trenching and Excavation
Trench collapses, or cave-ins, pose the greatest risk to workers’ lives. Employers should ensure there is a safe way to enter and exit the trench. Keep materials away from the edge of the trench. Look for standing water or atmospheric hazards. Never enter a trench unless it has been properly inspected.
More Info & Resources
Agriculture
Agriculture ranks among the most dangerous industries. Farmworkers are at high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, work-related lung diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases, and certain cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged sun exposure. Between 2003 and 2011, 5,816 agricultural workers died from work-related injuries in the US.
More Info & Resources
- Farm vehicle safety
- Combustible dusts (grain bins)
- Nuisance dusts
- Exposure to heat
- Chemicals and pesticides
- Confined spaces and dangerous gases (wells, bins, silos and pits)
- Equipment guarding
- Entrapment (bins and silos)
- First Aid
- Fall protection
- Orchard ladders
- Field sanitation
- Zoonotic diseases
- Labor Law issues (child labor)
- Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS)
- PPE
- Tree trimming
- Tree felling
- Noise